PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission (KPCPWC), in collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan and the district administration of Chitral, has agreed to further strengthen the Integrated Child Protection System and develop Chitral as a model district for child protection services.
A joint delegation comprising UNICEF Peshawar Chief Radoslaw Radek, UNICEF Chief Child Protection Jennifer Melton, Child Protection Specialist Belete Birara, Chief Child Protection KP Ijaz Muhammad Khan, Deputy Chief Tahir Khan, and Program Manager Salma Sohail held a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Lower Chitral Rao Muhammad Hashim to discuss measures for enhancing child protection mechanisms in the district.
During the meeting, participants emphasized the need for establishing a Child Protection Institution in Chitral to provide temporary shelter and support to unaccompanied and runaway children.
They also agreed to intensify awareness campaigns on child rights protection through print and electronic media and by mobilizing Community-Based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs), particularly in remote rural areas.
KPCPWC and UNICEF are jointly working to strengthen child protection systems across KP through an integrated approach that promotes coordination among government departments, community structures, service providers, and the social service workforce.
The partnership has contributed to the establishment and strengthening of District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), community-based protection committees, case management systems, referral pathways, and other child protection mechanisms at the grassroots level.
During their visit to Lower Chitral, the delegation reviewed ongoing child protection interventions at the District Child Protection Unit and interacted with Community-Based Child Protection Committees, adolescents, social service workers, and frontline service providers.
Discussions highlighted the critical role of community structures in promoting child rights, preventing violence against children, and facilitating support services for vulnerable children.
The delegation also attended an adolescent-led awareness session in Singoor village and reviewed child protection cases being managed through the formal case management system.
The visit provided an opportunity to assess progress, identify challenges, and strengthen coordination among government institutions, communities, and service providers.
The mission concluded with a renewed commitment from KPCPWC, UNICEF, and the district administration to work together for making Chitral a model district for integrated child protection services and ensuring a safer environment for children.
